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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
"Tales from the Perilous Realm" is a collection of short-stories by J.R.R. Tolkien, unrelated to each other. Their themes and styles is quite different from what we are used to read from the author; in 'Roverandom', we have a masterfully written children's tale, meant to be read aloud. In 'Farmer Giles of Ham', Tolkien proves he was a genious when it came to humour, depicting one of the best knight vs dragon stories that has ever been written. 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil' is a series of poems/songs that take place in Middle-Earth.
All in all, this is meant for dedicated fans of Tolkien, rather than the general audience. But it is certainly delightful to read, and highly recommendable. It serves as testimony to the mastery of the genious himself.
All in all, this is meant for dedicated fans of Tolkien, rather than the general audience. But it is certainly delightful to read, and highly recommendable. It serves as testimony to the mastery of the genious himself.
Even though very different to [a:J.R.R. Tolkien|656983|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1434625177p2/656983.jpg]'s classics, if I may use this term, such as [b:The Silmarillion|18975|The Silmarillion|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1167173554s/18975.jpg|4733799] or [b:The Lord of the Rings|15369|The Lord of the Rings (Radio Collection)|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1166672332s/15369.jpg|47306890], it is as enjoyable and entertaining. I personnally prefered [b:Smith of Wooton Major|28433706|Smith of Wooton Major|J.R.R. Tolkien|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451766809s/28433706.jpg|48547652], which I found very mysterious and interesting.
Roverandom has to be one of the best Children's short stories ever written!
This is easily the hardest work of Tolkien’s for me to try and get into when I started out reading. I rarely felt that “couldn’t put down” feeling, and only in 2 of the short stories; Farmer Giles of Ham, and Smith of Wootton Major. The inclusion at the end of Tolkien’s lecture on Fairytales, while a good inclusion for the subject matter of the book, really ends the reading experience on a dry and somewhat boring note - at least for anyone that finds it easier/faster to read fictional content.
In regards to each of Tolkien’s own “fairytales” that make up this book, this is my opinion of each;
Roverandom: ⭐️⭐️
Farmer Giles of Ham: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
* this section in entirely poetry, which I enjoyed, but less than half of the poems were actually about Tom.
Smith of Wootton Major: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leaf by Niggle: ⭐️⭐️
In regards to each of Tolkien’s own “fairytales” that make up this book, this is my opinion of each;
Roverandom: ⭐️⭐️
Farmer Giles of Ham: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
* this section in entirely poetry, which I enjoyed, but less than half of the poems were actually about Tom.
Smith of Wootton Major: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leaf by Niggle: ⭐️⭐️
Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien is a delightful and engaging read for any Tolkien enthusiast. The book begins with an introduction by author John Shippey, who provides insightful descriptions of each tale and explains their origins or inspirations. Following this introduction are five stories compiled within this collection.
The first story, Roverandom, is perhaps my favorite of the five. If I recall correctly, Tolkien wrote this charming tale for his youngest son, Christopher. The story is a breeze to read and captivates the imagination effortlessly. Farmer Giles of Ham is another gem worth reading, especially since it's a shorter tale. In my opinion, these two stories are the most fantastical and imaginative of the collection.
The other three stories, while still enjoyable, didn't capture my interest as strongly. Smith of Wootton Major and Leaf by Niggle didn't particularly appeal to me, even though Leaf by Niggle has received high praise from many readers. I can understand why it's well-regarded, perhaps due to its deeper themes and more subtle fantasy elements. Still, it didn't resonate with me as much, possibly because of its brevity or the lesser emphasis on fantasy. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, featuring the character from Middle-Earth, didn't captivate me either. Having read The Lord of the Rings in Dutch as a child, I had some recollection of Tom Bombadil, but the poetic and rhyming style of this story didn't suit my taste.
Overall, the five stories in this book are worth reading for any Tolkien fan. They would also make wonderful tales to share with your children or grandchildren if you have any.
Additionally, the book includes Tolkien's essay On Fairy-Stories, which takes up about a quarter of the book and spans nearly 100 pages. This essay is intriguing and well worth the read, as it delves into Tolkien's thoughts on fairy tales and fantasy literature. It provides insight into his views on storytelling, his writing methods, and his opinions on other writers. It also explores his beliefs about the purpose of fairy tales and their impact on readers.
The book concludes with a brief afterword by illustrator Alan Lee, who has created various artworks for Tolkien's books.
In summary, Tales from the Perilous Realm is an interesting and enjoyable book that is a worthy addition to any Tolkien collection.
The first story, Roverandom, is perhaps my favorite of the five. If I recall correctly, Tolkien wrote this charming tale for his youngest son, Christopher. The story is a breeze to read and captivates the imagination effortlessly. Farmer Giles of Ham is another gem worth reading, especially since it's a shorter tale. In my opinion, these two stories are the most fantastical and imaginative of the collection.
The other three stories, while still enjoyable, didn't capture my interest as strongly. Smith of Wootton Major and Leaf by Niggle didn't particularly appeal to me, even though Leaf by Niggle has received high praise from many readers. I can understand why it's well-regarded, perhaps due to its deeper themes and more subtle fantasy elements. Still, it didn't resonate with me as much, possibly because of its brevity or the lesser emphasis on fantasy. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, featuring the character from Middle-Earth, didn't captivate me either. Having read The Lord of the Rings in Dutch as a child, I had some recollection of Tom Bombadil, but the poetic and rhyming style of this story didn't suit my taste.
Overall, the five stories in this book are worth reading for any Tolkien fan. They would also make wonderful tales to share with your children or grandchildren if you have any.
Additionally, the book includes Tolkien's essay On Fairy-Stories, which takes up about a quarter of the book and spans nearly 100 pages. This essay is intriguing and well worth the read, as it delves into Tolkien's thoughts on fairy tales and fantasy literature. It provides insight into his views on storytelling, his writing methods, and his opinions on other writers. It also explores his beliefs about the purpose of fairy tales and their impact on readers.
The book concludes with a brief afterword by illustrator Alan Lee, who has created various artworks for Tolkien's books.
In summary, Tales from the Perilous Realm is an interesting and enjoyable book that is a worthy addition to any Tolkien collection.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
I enjoyed it a lot :) Nice, easy to read and I understood a bit more about elf and fairies.
Surprisingly, I'm starting to like poetry!
Surprisingly, I'm starting to like poetry!
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No